Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys private plane was spotted Tuesday night at Lakefront Airport in New Orleans, sparking speculation that the Cowboys owner could be pursuing Saints head coach Sean Payton.
FOX 8 Sports Anchor Sean Fazende shared a photo on Twitter of Jones’ plane at the airport:
This is at Lakefront Airport tonight. pic.twitter.com/S2D4wKH7wZ
— Sean Fazende (@SeanFazende) January 6, 2016
Saints writer Andrew Schuster then said Jones was at Piano Bar in New Orleans:
Cowboys plane at what is supposed to be NO Lakefront Airport & Jerry Jones at Piano Bar in New Orleans tonight. pic.twitter.com/wSww5ntXaw
— Andrew Schuster (@TheSaintsDish) January 6, 2016
Even though Jones’ plane being in New Orleans at a time when Payton seems ready to move on from the Saints, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora says “nothing is cooking” between them.
Nothing is cooking between the Cowboys and Sean Payton. Understand the photos of Jerry's plan have some wondering. But nothing to see here
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 6, 2016
Jones even denied it to The New Orleans Advocate’s Nick Underhill.
Jerry Jones on if he's here for Payton: "No, no, no."
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) January 6, 2016
Sorry Jason, but I’m going to have to disagree with you here. Jones has long lusted after Payton, who comes from the Bill Parcells tree. That is common knowledge. Jones even reportedly was talking with Payton in 2012 prior to the coach signing an extension with the Saints.
Jones also was critical of Jason Garrett last month for not winning more with his backup quarterbacks (they went 1-11 when Tony Romo wasn’t playing).
Jones publicly backed Garrett after the Cowboys’ season ended, which allows him to be sneaky and talk with Payton behind closed doors. If nothing materializes, Jones looks like he always supported Garrett. If something does happen, well, then Jones will have replaced a 45-43 coach with one who’s won a Super Bowl and is an offensive wizard.
